The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-19
MORE ABOUT THE FLAGS.
Another Chapter of Interesting Reading Con-
corning the Presidents Order.

So the President did not know it was loaded.
But the inevitable funeral will follow as usual
in such cases. It is not the first time that those
unfamiliar with war material have been unex-
pectedly blown to kingdom come while carelessly
poking around among the relics of battle fields.
The burning question to-day among the mourn
ers, of all grades seems to be, Who killed Cock
Robin2 Was i. General Drum alonef Or Gen.
Drum and Secretary Endicottl Or either of
these or both of them in combina alton with the
President It is very evident from the post
mortem that Cock Robin did not kill himself.
1t is clear from the evidence that the President
was a party to the murder. The gun could not
have gone off unless he either pulled the trigger
or ordered it pulled. In any case he is particeps
crimnis, and in any the bird is dead
There is universal aud bitter denunciation OF
the cupidity which conceived and the dullness
which sought TO execute such a scheme. There
is limit to the varieties of emphatic language
which all grades of Democrats, including many
tratiou which has dealt the party such blow.
There are many of the sagacious ones who do
not expect to recover from the damage inflicted.
They have a clear appreciation of the sentiment
which a flag arouses and they do not expect the
storm of feeling now sweeping over the
North to be allayed before the next general
ton which proceeds to deal with battle-fags as
they would with side OF sole leather a bale
of tarpauln To limited class of men mex
perienced in sentiments of earnest patriotism,
flag is many yards of bunting, SO many red
stripes, SO many white ones and a certain num-
Der OF stars-in all, about two dollars worth of
of carrying. To most men, however. it is the
embodiment of nationality. To soldiers it is
something sacred beyond the power of any
known language to define. The flags captured
in battle are to them a heritage which none in a
republic are powerful enough to despoil without
sure destruction being visited them. The men
h41 sNN4 he tor- &c e.. %hacA
emblems of treason of which the Nation is
thinking, or who saw their comrades mangled
and killed in their capture are not men to for
get or forgive the act which President Cleveland
ordered pleasant duty" and only failed to
execute because he found himself pursued with
a charge of violating law.
And now that the President has publicly pro-
claimed that the law restrained him from per-
forming his promises to the Southern Governors,
it remains for him to execute the whole law
which provides that after flags captured by the
army and the navy have been received at the
seat of government, they ''shall be delivered to
the President for the purpose Of being, und
his direction, preserved and displayed in such
public places as he may deem proper"
His next should be to execute this pro-
vision under his constitutional duty, take
care that the laws be faithfully executed"
There are some curious features about the
origin and progress of this crime against those
who fought the war and those who supported
them. General Drums letter, making the first
formal suggestion of the surrender written
early as April 80. 1t was not approved ny the
ITeSlQeEt as SHOWN Dy secretary EuOl-
colts Endorsement until nearly month
after. namely, on May &C. The
circular letters to the Governors of
Southern States were sent about ten days later
No one in the North was allowed to know
thing about this matter. But General Drums
letter and Secretary Endicott's Endorsement
were sent South week before their existence
became known here, and could not be obtained
at the department.. even after the Charleston
News. with both published, arrived here. At the
same time the News also favored with a list
"a a n (rOvaFnnr
OF this list It says: "Among the captured
Southern banners are twelve flags which were
picked MP after tho surrender of Charleston.
Some of them are Of very great historical value.
and it is hoped they will be carefully preserved
when they are finally turned over to the State of
the valor of whose troops they are so precious
memorial"
After printing the list it continues:
THE South Carolina State flag that is
turned with the simple record. No history
also requires careful investigation. Doubtless
it has history: else it would not be in SO goodly
company. Who is there to speak for IL and tell
it's story2 The best plan TO assure its early iden-
tihcaIon, perhaps, is to place it where it will be
seen by men from all parts of the State. Some
will recognize it sooner or later, and the best
place for its exhibition for this purpose is ii the
Capitol at Colur1 bia, where representatives and
visitors from all parts of the State assemble
every winter. Whether it has or has not spe
cial history. the fact should be ascertained. It
should not be allowed to remain q subject for
either unjust reproach or misplaced interest
Eight of the twelve flags now recovered were
captured in battle. and these, at least, should be
kept together. To their number should be
added. also as soon as practicable, the battle
flags and war flags of every kind that are now in
possession of individuals and societies. except,
indeed, those which really have no history We
can imagine no good reason why those which
of interest should be kept longer
in private hands and exposed to
injury and loss 1t would be we'll, also, for
some concerted action to be taken by the gov
ernments of the several Southern States in re-
gard to the exchange of such flags as have passed
out of the possession of the States to which they
properly belong. The example that has been
set by the general government should be fol-
lowed promptly by every State government and
local organization. The war is over. Let the
fadeless banners now unfuried be returned to
those who once bore them In the forefront of
war, and who. with their descendants will most
fondiy cherish them in the days of peace"
It is worthy of note and long remembrance,
in connection with the question of responsibility
for this crime against the soldiers, that General
Drum insists that his proposition was presented
in Cabinet meeting and unanimously approved.
This makes it essentially an administration act.
But no one who is even generally acquainted
with the routine of army matters will for an in
slant doubt that the approval of the President
announced in the circular letter by the Adjutant-
general was UNQUALIFIED, and with as full under
standing as he showed any disposition to have
AS to Endicotts course it will not seem sur
prising to any one who hears that when the
North rose, almost as one man, to support the
war, he left the church which he attended be-
cause the minister presumed to preach patriot
1861, and has grown the same direction for a
quarter of century, would just about become
fitted for Secretary of War when such a
crime as he has helped concoct was to be at
tempted.
Sentiments of John A. Logan Post, No. 8.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
LAFAYETTE, IND, June l8-As an expression
of their disapproval of the proposition to return
the rebel flags to the respective States. the mem
bers of John A. Logan Post, of this city, have
adorted the following:
Resolved, by John A. Logan Post, No. 3, @. A R..
Department of Indiana, That, soldiers who bore
the brunt of the nternecine war its hardxhips dis
ease suffering and dangers, and in the of
half million comrades who gave their lives that
liberty and union might live. feel it duty as
loyal sentinels to speak promptly and with
tain sound upon the question of the of rebel
flags.
Resolved That as loyal soldiers of the Battle
ground county of Tippecanoe, viewed with horror
disgust fact that the of the martyr
Lincoln. the soldier and statesman Garfield, and our
beloved and lamented Grant, should be the first
recognition the lost cause" and in his